Emulsion fuel, and process and apparatus for production thereof

Abstract

An emulsion fuel of high quality that can be handled and used in the same manner as for ordinary fuel oil and that can maintain a very good emulsion condition over a prolonged period of time. There is provided an emulsion fuel consisting of a liquid of mixture composed of 40 to 95 vol. % of fuel oil, 60 to 5 vol. % of reduced water with a redox potential of +100 mV or below and 0.1 to 10 wt. %, based on the weight of fuel oil, of emulsifier. Electrolyzed-reduced water obtained by electrolysis of water is preferred as the reduced water. Preferably, the emulsion fuel is obtained by using, as the electrolyzed-reduced water, electrolyzed-reduced water produced by electrolysis of water with the use of diaphragm cell with a positive electrode and negative electrode disposed apart while applying ultrasonic waves by means of ultrasonic wave generating means. In the electrolysis, preferably, an electrode of hydrogen storing metal or alloy is used as the negative electrode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an emulsion fuel, a method for producing the same, and an apparatus used therefor, the emulsion fuel being of environmentally-adaptable type and being obtained by emulsifying water and fuel oil such as gasoline, light oil, kerosene, heavy oil, vegetable oil or waste oil.BACKGROUND ART[0002]An emulsion fuel obtained by mixing water with fuel oil such as gasoline, light oil, kerosene, heavy oil, vegetable oil or waste oil, generates less amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and soot at the time of combustion. Thus, the emulsion fuel is known to be an effective fuel for suppressing air pollution. For example, diesel engines, which are effectively utilized in many fields such as vehicles, ships, power generation, civil engineering and construction, etc, mainly use light oil as fuel. Recently, an uncombusted product, soot, and the like, such as nitrogen oxide and PM (Particulate Matter), which are included in exhaust gas from diesel engine...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]An emulsion fuel obtained according to the present invention is an environmentally-friendly fuel causing less pollution, and retains a very good emulsion state over a prolonged period of time. Thus, the emulsion fuel can be handled and used in the same manner as for ordinary fuel oil. Moreover, the emulsion fuel of the present invention can be used directly in presently-known engines, combustion apparatuses and facilities, and thus no dedicated equipment is necessary to be installed additionally. Besides, the emulsion fuel is superior in gas mileage and quality, also. Moreover, when the emulsion fuel of the present invention including, for example, light oil and water containing an emulsifier is used in a diesel engine, the generation amounts of nitrogen oxide and PM including black smoke particles are reduced considerably. Furthermore, the following merits are obtained: the gas mileage of a vehicle is improved, and the lifetime of engine oil is extended.Best Modes For Carrying Out the InventionFirst Embodiment

[0026]An emulsion fuel according to a first embodiment of the present invention is obtained by mixing, stirring and then emulsifying: 40 to 95 vol % of fuel oil; 60 to 5 vol % of reduced water having an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of +100 mV or below; and 0.1 to 10 wt % of emulsifier relative to the fuel oil. The method and means for the mixing, stirring or emulsifying are not particularly limited. Any publicly known method, means and device can be used. As a preferable mixing ratio between the fuel oil and the reduced water, the fuel oil is 50 to 90 vol %, while the reduced water is 50 to 10 vol %.

[0027]The emulsifier used in the first embodiment is in a liquid or solid state. However, a way of adding the emulsifier to and mixing the emulsifier with the fuel oil and / or the reduced water is not limited at all. The emulsifier may be added and mixed in the form of an aqueous solution, or may be directly added to and mixed with the fuel oil and / or the reduced water. It is only necessary that the amount of the emulsifier added be 0.1 to 10 wt %, and preferably 1 to 5 wt %, relative to the fuel oil in the liquid mixture of the fuel oil and the reduced water in the end.

[0028]As the emulsifier used in the first embodiment, any of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants can be used. However, preferable are nonionic surfactants including: fatty acid esters of polyvalent alcohols such as sorbitol, sorbitan and sorbide; alkylene oxide adducts of alcohols; and the like. A single kind of the emulsifier can be used, or two or more kinds thereof can be used in mixture.

[0029]The reduced water used in the first embodiment has an oxidation-reduction potential of +100 mV or below. Generally, reduced water means water having an oxidation-reduction potential lower than approximately +200 mV. It is known that, the lower the oxidation-reduction potential, the higher the reducing power. Incidentally, it is said that the oxidation-reduction potential of tap water is +200 to +700 mV. The oxidation-reduction potential of natural water such as well water is lower than that of tap water. Some kind of natural water has a negative oxidation-reduction potential.

Problems solved by technology

Recently, an uncombusted product, soot, and the like, such as nitrogen oxide and PM (Particulate Matter), which are included in exhaust gas from diesel engines, have caused air pollution.

Specifically, water in the fuel is vaporized, and then part of the vapor is separated, causing a phenomenon of small explosion.

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